Authentic German pork knuckle in a castle – the perfect combination of crispy skin and tender meat

Text & Photos byPurple Smile

I never expected to find authentic German pork knuckle made by Germans right here in Jiaoxi. What’s more, this version is prepared differently from most you’d find in Taiwan. It’s first boiled, then baked in an oven, so the knife slides right through, easily separating the bone from the meat. Is it good? It completely shatters expectations – incredibly tender!!

Edelburg German Castle Homestay is located at the foot of Bai’e Village in Jiaoxi. This German-style castle was genuinely designed by the owner himself and then built by hired workers.

The entrance even features a piano keyboard motif!!

We visited just before Christmas, so the restaurant had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

They say the construction of this house was quite a challenge for the Yilan craftsmen, because Germans are world-renowned for their quality standards – a true test of the builders’ skills.

As mentioned earlier, the German owner has very high standards for quality. The painting method used on this wall is one such example – the commitment really pays off with unique results!! There are many other small details that show this dedication, but today we’re here to talk about the food.

Mr. Su, the German owner, once ran a German restaurant called De Wu in Taipei and was also one of the featured chefs at the World’s Seven Famous Chefs Summit held in Taipei. So his cooking skills are definitely top-notch.
Now he’s back in Yilan with his wife, developing this castle restaurant.

They offer customizable shared set meals here, so after ordering, everyone shares the dishes – just like dining styles abroad!!!

This time, we enjoyed the German Combo Signature Set, which costs around NT$599 per person. There’s also a Deluxe Set at NT$799 per person. For something even more special, there’s the Sea & Land Set (Chef’s Special + Freshly Caught Yilan Seafood) and the Refined Set at NT$999 per person. The Royal Set is available at NT$1,300 or NT$1,500 per person. Even students can enjoy a group dining discount at NT$399 per person, with an additional 10% service charge.

First up, unsweetened German handmade bread with butter!!

This bread is onion-flavored, full of traditional German hometown taste. It’s hearty, chewy, and has a great bite.

Haha, eating it this way is actually quite reminiscent of pineapple buns with butter.

This is lentil soup. I didn’t think much of it at first, but wow, this soup is really delicious!!!

It’s made with onions, lentils, sausages, and more. Many of the ingredients are imported, which explains why the flavor is so unique.

This rich pumpkin soup is also extremely tasty.

It contains small pieces of pumpkin that have been cooked until very soft – perfect for kids. Little bagels and hazelnuts loved it.

This appetizer straight out of a fairy tale house delighted both kids and adults – it looks just like a mushroom house from a cartoon!! In reality, it’s a poached egg on the bottom with tomatoes and cream toppings on top. Very creative!! Parents with young kids, better take some inspiration home.

Salad!! This one is pretty average, but the dressing – now that’s where the magic lies.

Sauces are truly the soul of Western cuisine. This one is an orange and kumquat salad dressing – refreshing with a strong fruity aroma. It really elevates the salad and tastes amazing. Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve just learned another trick!!! Though if it were served in a wooden bowl, the visual impact might be even better.

Sausage platter.

Sausages are another favorite among Germans. The small ones are plain, the medium ones are Bavarian-style, and the large ones are cheese-flavored.

Pair them with pickled cucumbers and mustard – it’s really delicious!! Even better with a beer.

Mashed potatoes, a common sight in Western cuisine, but these are cooked using a braising method and mixed with minced sausage. Surprisingly refreshing, not greasy at all, and even more flavorful!!

And here it comes – the star of today’s meal, the pork knuckle we came specially to try!!! At first glance, it doesn’t look any different from your average German pork knuckle, but there’s more than meets the eye.

That’s because it’s first boiled for three hours, then baked in the oven.

So when the staff served us, they sliced the tender, slow-cooked pork trotters apart with just a few cuts of the knife.

As soon as this dish was served, we practically fought over it and finished it in no time. The skin was just as crispy, while the inside was incredibly tender—I can still remember how delicious the pork trotters were with the pickled mustard greens.

The dessert after the meal was also great; this time it was German chocolate bananas.

Taiwan is a kingdom of banana production, but there are very few famous desserts that use bananas as an ingredient. Germany doesn’t grow bananas and has to import them from neighboring countries, yet they managed to make such a delicious banana dessert!!

Besides the bitter-sweet chocolate on top, the bottom layer features homemade vanilla biscuits.

The texture has rich layers—the combination of these ingredients is simply a match made in heaven.

The Italian gelato here is also very authentic. No matter how untiring the pork trotters are, they’re still meat. Even though it’s winter, having a few scoops to freshen your palate is really nice.

Many small architectural details reflect the owner’s taste and dedication. After all, Germans prioritize quality—in their eyes, this building is meant to last a hundred years, so of course it needs to be well-planned and well-made.

It looks like the family crest of the owner’s family.

Next time you come to Jiaoxi for hot springs, don’t forget to try the authentic German-style pork knuckle and other signature dishes made by a real German.

De Wu Restaurant & Edelburg German Castle Homestay
Address: No. 78-5, Chaiwei Road, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County (at the foot of Fo Guang University)
Phone: 0955-931-708
Official Website:http://www.soffner.com.tw/
Fan Page:https://www.facebook.com/Adler2014
 

We are Ben & Jean—we love food, travel, photography, and 3C.
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